Advertising and promotional display apparatus

ABSTRACT

In an advertising display apparatus, a compartment is formed having image reflecting surfaces provided on the back, bottom and side walls, while a transparent mirror surface is provided upon the front wall, and in this manner, viewing of multiple images formed of the device displayed within the apparatus can be achieved. The image reflecting surfaces are cushion mounted to their respective walls, so that during transit, they will not be fractured, and either the front or back wall of the compartment is hingedly or slidingly mounted to provide easy access for quick rearrangement of the advertising displays. A translucent surface provides an upwardly disposed space for mounting of the lighting source, and furnishes full illumination of the device being displayed.

[ 51 July 16,1974

1,184,740 3/1970 Great Britain........................ 40/219ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL 302,631 Great 40/219 DISPLAY APPARATUS [75]inventor: Leonard Spitz, St. Louis, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Advertisers Display & Exhibits, lnc.,

Primary ExaminerWm. l-l. Grieb Assistant Examiner-John F. Pitrelli St.Louis, Mo. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul M. Denk Dec. 26, 1972 {21]Appl. No.: 318,169

[57] ABSTRACT In an advertising display apparatus, a compartment isformed having image reflecting surfaces provided on the back, bottom andside walls, while a transparent mirror surface is provided upon thefront wall, and in this manner, viewing of multiple images formed of the[22] Filed:

Field of Search device displayed within the apparatus can be achieved.The image reflecting surfaces are cushion mounted to their respectivewalls, so that during tran- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSsit, they will not be fractured, and either the front or Wilson backwall of the compartment is hingedly or slidingly mounted to provide easyaccess for quick rearrangement of the advertising displays. Atranslucent surface provides an upwardly disposed space for mounting of0/219 X the lighting source, and furnishes full illumination of thedevice being displayed.

XXX 9 9 191 222 //l 000 454 1. 40 219 xBarlow.............................. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS unt a m S s nm flfg ean YHEM 32942 044567 999999 111111 [ll/ll 560230 1.11 37 788 640700 139 03 0063800 28895 1 3 22233 14 Claims, 6 DrawingFigures 688,925 5/1930 France.................................. 40/219PATENTEU JUL 1 51914 SHHIIBF3 I ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL DISPLAYAPPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generallyto an advertising display, but more particularly, pertains to astructure for an advertising and promotional apparatus which providesmultiple images of the viewed display in a variety of dispositions.

The various prior art displays provide an illuminated booth havingmirrors arranged around the sides and back walls, with, in someinstances, a transparent mirror covering the front wall, and thedisposition of an article therein provides for an infinite series ofreflections, as would be expected. In addition, other prior art relateddevices include the use of additional housings mounted in tandem onebehind the other, so as to provide a dual visual image in an infinitedepth perception. Furthermore, other patented devices have consideredthe revolving of the mount supporting a product to be displayed,although such innovation does not appear to have been included in thetype of advertising display which utilizes the transparent mirrorcovering upon the front wall providing multiple reflective images.

While most of the prior art advertising devices of this nature haveprovided the basic elements of mirrored walls for providing amultiplicity of reflective images, none of them have considered theconcept of arranging adequate lighting sources above the displayeddevice, that is, above a translucent surface, while further furnishing acushion mounting to the edge coated reflective surfaces to decrease thelikelihood of mirror fracture as in transit. Furthermore, none of theprior art has considered the provision of removably or hingedlyconnected walls to provide for easy access into such a displayapparatus, nor have they given consideration'to providing preciseangular dispositions to the reflective surfaces to slightly angulate themultiplicity of reflective images being viewed, and thereby to enhancethe uniqueness of this apparatus is catching the eye and stimulating thepromotion of the advertised item.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improvedstructure for-an advertising display that furnishes viewing of multiplereflective images of advertising and promotional devices displayedwithin its inter- IOI'.

A further object of this invention is to provide enhanced protection forthe fragile components of an advertising display so as to prevent theirfracture particularly during repeated transfer.

,Additional objects of this invention include the providing ofsupplemental space within an advertising display to provide convenientstorage for the various promotional paraphernalia or otherinstrumentalities, such as the electrical components, as used in thisdevice.

Another general object of this invention is to provide an advertisingdisplay which is compact in structure,

' easy to assemble, an-economical of design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, generallystated, there is included an advertising display incorporating thevarious back, front, side, top and bottom walls, with all of these wallsbut the top wall having animage reflecting surface to provide forviewing of multiple images of a device arranged within the formedcompartment. The front wall of this compartment is constructed as atransparent mirror surface, one that allows convenient viewing into thecompartment when it is well lighted interiorly, and in conjunction withthe reflecting surface of the back wall, multiplies the virtual image ofthe displayed device manyfold. The structure of this device has beendesigned to provide for its inherent and self protection particularlyduring transit, wherein the image reflecting surfaces are mounted in acushioning manner to their respective walls so as to prevent theirfracturing as when subjected to impacting movement. Furthermore, theedges of the reflecting surfaces are polymer coated so as to preventchipping at this location also during transit.

The compartment is compactly formed having a translucent surfacearranged a short distance below the top wall of the same, and withinthis area there is mounted the lighting source of ample lumens toprovide full illumination of the promotional device being displayedtherebelow. Likewise, another space may be provided between the bottomwall and the base of the compartment to provide storage for either thepromotional devices, the replacements for the electrical components ofthe apparatus, or any other parts that need to be temporarily stored forsubsequent usage.

' The device has further been constructed having a back or front wallthat may be hingedly connected or slidably mounted to provide for theiropening and ease of access into the display area, and furthermore, thetransparent mirror surface provided in the front wall is removablymounted within channels or clips provided at this location. Thisprovides for ease of removal of this mirror surface when desired. Thevarious other reflecting surfaces provided in the apparatus may bemounted at slight angles, either longitudinally or laterally, so thatthe multiple reflection of the displayed device may provide a series ofimages that are angularly arranged away from the center of focus as whenthe device is viewed from directly in front of the display area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 provides a side view of theadvertising display apparatus taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 provides a corner sectional view taken along the curvilinearsighting line disclosed at 5 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 provides a partial sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG.5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRE EMBODIMENT In referring to the drawings, andin particular FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, there is disclosed the advertising andpromotional display apparatus A of this invention, being showncomprising a compartment like member having a front wall 1, side walls 2and 3, a back wall 4, and a bottom wall 5. A top wall 6 provides acomplete closure for the compartment of this apparatus. The side walls,back, top and bottom walls may be formed, on their exterior, of any typeof construction material, such as wood, plywood, plastic, metal, or thelike, but a segment of the front wall 1, particularly at its morecentral position 7, is formed as a transparent mirror surface whichallows for viewing into the interior of the compartment, or into itsdisplay space S, but having a treated surface that provides for a mirrorreflection interiorly, which may be more descriptively defined asone-way glass. This particular surface is designed to allow one to viewinto the interior of the apparatus, and to view any advertising devicedisplayed therein in multiple reflections by reason of the mirroredsurface disposed functionally on the interior of said surface.

Provided in the upward regions of the compartment of the apparatus is atranslucent surface 8, which provides asmall amount of spacing betweenitself and the top wall 6, and within this area are provided the variousinstrumentalities, primarily the lighting source, which provides forfull illuminating of the display area located below the surface 8.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, there is also provided a space between thebottom wall 5 and the base wall 9 of the apparatus, and this space maybe conveniently used for storage or for any other purpose.

The display space S located in thecompartment between the front wall I,the side walls 2 and 3, the back wall 4, the bottom wall 5, and thetranslucent surface 8, is formed to provide multiple reflections of theadvertising device located in said space, and this reflection isachieved through the use of the transparent mirror surface '7, aspreviously defined, and upon the interior surfaces of the said sidewalls, back wall, and bottom wall, there are provided image reflectingsurfaces,

or mirrors, that, along with the mirror surface 7, places theadvertising display device in a position in which it is totallysurrounded by reflecting surfaces, with the only exception being theupward regions where the translucent surface 8 is provided for allowinglight to radiate downwardly into the display area to provide fullillumination.

ln the space provided between the translucent surface 8 and the top wall6 there are provided, as previously described, the various lightingsources in addition to other electrical instrumentalities thatfacilitate the functioning and operation of this advertising displayapparatus. Provided centrally and mounted to the under'side of the topwall 6 is a mounting means 10 which incorporates an electrical or othertype motor, and perhaps a speed reducer, that are useful for providingcontrolled rotation of a shaft 11 that-extends downwardly through thepreviously defined space and also extends further downwardly into theadvertising display space, as shown. This shaft 11 may include'extensionmembers as at 12, held together by coupling means 13, so that thelengthof the shaft may be made to extend downwardly to any depth desiredwithin the advertising display space. In this particular instance, theshaft extends through the translucent surface 8, and terminates justbelow the same where a pair of supporting discs 14 and 15 are used forsecuring a member 16, useful for holding the advertising device beingdisplayed, and in this particular instance, the member 16 comprises anannular disc of clear plastic which may incorporate various slots, orthe like, to which the display devices may be held and suspended. Anyform of bearing 17 may be provided through the aperture of thetranslucent surface 8, and by this means may provide for stabilizationof the shaft 11 as it extends through and rotates within the displayspace.

Also provided in the space intermediate the translucent surface 8 andthe top wall 6 are a series of fluorescent lights that provide theaforesaid lighting source. To achieve proper lighting of the advertisingdevice displayed within this apparatus, and to acquire maximimreflection of said device in its surrounding mirrors, it is desirable toprovide full illumination of the display area. This is achieved byarranging a series of lineal or continuous run fluorescent lamps, as at18, proximate to and around the walls of the apparatus at this location,and in addition, a pair of circline or circular fluorescent lamps 19 aremounted proximate the top wall to provide greater illumination centrallyof the appara' tus. It has been found that this combination of linealand circular lights provides a complete and full lighting of the displayarea located downwardly thereof. The usual electrical junction box, asat 20, and the fluorescent lighting ballast, one as at 21, are providedfor furnishing the electrical source for operation of the aforesaidlamps.

Since the quantity of lighting previously defined may generate someheat, there is also provided in this upward space one or more exhaustfans 22 which may be periodically operated from a thermostat or thelike, and are vented through one of the walls, in this case being thetop wall, to exhaust any generated heat from said area.

The image reflecting surfaces on the interior of the side, bottom andback walls, as previously described, comprise mirrors 23, that areconveniently mounted to the respective walls in a manner which lessensthe likelihood of their breakage as when, for example, they receiverough handling during transfer. A more detailed showing of this mountingmethod is more accurately revealed in FIG. 5, wherein the mirror 23attaching to the back wall 4 is shown in proximity with the mirror 23attaching to the adjacent side wall 3. Each of the mirrors 23 hasprovided on its exposed edges a coating of plastic or other polymermaterial, as at 23, so as to prevent chipping or cracking of said edgesas when the mirrors come into close contact. In addition, and to furthersafeguard breakage of the mirrors 23, each of said mirror is mounted toits respective wall through the medium of a cushioning member 25, andsuch a cushioning member may also comprise a form of polyurethane orother foamed product which has an adhesive coating, as at 26, providedon either of its sides to allow for its adherence to the contiguousmirror, in addition to its respective wall, and thereby conveniently andeasily provide for mounting of the respective mirrors to the interiorsurface of its adjacent wall. The number of cushioning members 25 thatmust be used to support a mirror depends upon the size of the displayapparatus, and where said apparatus is of a smaller size, as forexample, having dimensions approximating an 18 inch cube-like displayapparatus, then only four of the cushioning members 25 will be requiredfor adhering its respective mirror to the interior of the wall. As alsoshown in FIG. 6, these cushioning members 25 are disclosed as beingsquare in shape, but obviously any shape for the cushioning members canbe utilized for holding a mirror to its respective wall.

. it has been found that where one or more of the rnirrors, particularlyeither the mirror 23 associated with the back wall 4, or the transparentmirror 7 provided in the front wall 1, is slightly angulated, eitherlaterally or longitudinally in its mounting, the multiple reflection hasa tendency to deviate in the direction of the mirrors slight turn andprovides a unique appearance for the displayed device. This angularmounting can be achieved by any method, as for example. by using thickercushioning members 25 to one side than used on the other.

. It is also essential that access be provided into the advertisingdisplay area, and for this reason, the back wall 4 of the apparatus ishingedly connected, as by means of the piano hinge 27, to the rear edgeof one of the side walls, as for example side wall 2, while, the otherand pivotal edge 28 'is designed for snugly closing against the shoulder29 formed integrally of the rear edge of the side wall 3. Various formsof catches, as for example, the magnetic catches 30 are providedproximate the pivotal edge 28 of the rear wall 4, and are useful forholding this wall in closure after it has been pivoted closed. Obviouslyany other form of door like structures can be made in the back wall 4 toprovide for access into the advertising display area, and the door meansjust previously described is meant to be merely illustrative. lnaddition, the front wall 1 of the apparatus may also, or in lieu of theback wall 4, be constructed in a similar manner to provide for itspivotal opening for achieving access into the advertising display area.

Preferably, the front wall I is constructed in a manner which providesfor its slide mounting so that it may be slid upwardly and removed whenrequired. In the case where the entire front Wall i may be slidemounted, the transparent mirror 7 will be fixedly secured to the framestructure of said front wall 1, and the side'edges 31 will be formed astongues that slidingly fit within the channels 32 formed integrallylongitudinally along the front edges of the side walls 2 and 3. In thismanner, the entire front wall 1, at least down to the location of thebrake off line 33, may be slid upwardly for removal of the upwardportion of the front wall in addition to the held transparent mirrorsurface, as aforesaid. Where it is desired to retain structuralintegrity for the front wall portion of this apparatus, only thetransparent mirror surface 7 may be slide mounted to the front wall 1,and the various forms of mounting means, such as slide clips 34, thatform a guide track for the mirror surface may be secured to the fixedstructure of both the side portions of the structure of the front wall,and the mirror surface 7 may be slidably mounted thereto and retained inplace by means of such clips.

Obviously, the downward portion of the mirror surface 7 mayrest eitherupon the bottom wall 5 or the lower frame structure of the front wall 1to stabilize the retention of said mirror in place within said frontwall.

Numerous variations in the construction of the advertising displayapparatus of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art, andit is intended that such variations if devised within the spirit of theprinciple of this invention will be comprehended within the scope of theappended claims and protected by any patent to issue thereon. Thedescribed preferred embodiment is merely illustrative Having thusdescribed the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured byLetters Patent is:

1. In an advertising display apparatus incorporating a plurality ofimage reflecting surfaces to provide viewing of a multiplicity ofanimated images of a displayed device comprising a compartment formedhaving side, back, front, top and bottom walls, and forming a spacetherein for suspension of the device being displayed, at least the backand side walls of said apparatus including image reflecting surfaces,the front wall of said apparatus including a transparent mirror surfaceallowing for viewing into the compartment and with the back wallproviding the animated multiple reflection of a displayed device, alighting source provided in the upward regions of the compartment tofully illuminate a displayed device to enhance its viewing, and lightingsource including a set of lineal fluorescent lamps ar ranged around theback, front and side walls and at least one circline lamp arrangedproximate and central of the top wall, exhaust means provided in one ofsaid walls in the vicinity of said lighting source and when operatedexhausting the generated heat of the lights from said area, atranslucent surface separating the display space from said lightingsource to diffuse the emitted light throughout said display space, meansfor mounting said advertising device provided in the area formedintermediate the top wall and the translucent surface, said meansincluding a motor means for turning said advertising device and beingmounted to said top wall, a shaft operatively associated with said motormeans and capable of being turned thereby, said shaft extendingdownwardly through said translucent surface and providing for suspensionof an advertising device within the display space, whereby uponenergization of said motor means a multiplicity of the suspended andilluminated advertising device is reflected and observed through thetransparent mirror surface of the front wall.

2. The invention of claim 1 and including a base wall disposed beneaththe image reflecting bottom wall surface and providing a spacetherebetween, and said space forming a supplemental compartment forstorage usage.

3. The invention'of claim 1 wherein at least one of said back, front andside walls hingedly connects to said compartment, and when openedproviding for access at least into the display space.

4. The invention of claim 3 and including a magnetic catch provided forholding said hinged wall fixed in closure when closed.

5. The invention of claim 1 and including a disc connecting to thedownward end of said shaft and incorporating means for allowingattachment of a plurality of advertising devices within the displayspace.

6. The invention of claim 1 including channel means formed along thelongitudinally disposed front edges of the side walls, and said meansprovided for receiving and mounting the transparent mirror surface ofthe front wall.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said mirror surface is slidablyremovable.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said image reflecting surfaces arecushion mounted to their respective back, side and bottom walls.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said cushioned mounting includes aseries of foam members adhesively mounting between each surface and itsrespective wall.

fleeting surface of the front wall is angularly disposed to provide forangularity in the viewing of the image of the device being displayed.

13. The invention of claim 1 including slide clips connecting proximatethe side edges of the front wall, said clips provided for receiving andholding the transparent mirror surface to said front wall.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said mirror surface is slidablyremovable.

1. In an advertising display apparatus incorporating a plurality ofimage reflecting surfaces to provide viewing of a multiplicity ofanimated images of a displayed device comprising a compartment formedhaving side, back, front, top and bottom walls, and forming a spacetherein for suspension of the device being displayed, at least the backand side walls of said apparatus including image reflecting surfaces,the front wall of said apparatus including a transparent mirror surfaceallowing for viewing into the compartment and with the back wallproviding the animated multiple reflection of a displayed device, alighting source provided in the upward regions of the compartment tofully illuminate a displayed device to enhance its viewing, and lightingsource including a set of lineal fluorescent lamps arranged around theback, front and side walls and at least one circline lamp arrangedproximate and central of the top wall, exhaust means provided in one ofsaid walls in the vicinity of said lighting source and when operatedexhausting the generated heat of the lights from said area, atranslucent surface separating the display space from said lightingsource to diffuse the emitted light throughout said display space, meansfor mounting said advertising device provided in the area formedintermediate the top wall and the translucent surface, said meansincluding a motor means for turning said advertising device and beingmounted to said top wall, a shaft operatively associated with said motorMeans and capable of being turned thereby, said shaft extendingdownwardly through said translucent surface and providing for suspensionof an advertising device within the display space, whereby uponenergization of said motor means a multiplicity of the suspended andilluminated advertising device is reflected and observed through thetransparent mirror surface of the front wall.
 2. The invention of claim1 and including a base wall disposed beneath the image reflecting bottomwall surface and providing a space therebetween, and said space forminga supplemental compartment for storage usage.
 3. The invention of claim1 wherein at least one of said back, front and side walls hingedlyconnects to said compartment, and when opened providing for access atleast into the display space.
 4. The invention of claim 3 and includinga magnetic catch provided for holding said hinged wall fixed in closurewhen closed.
 5. The invention of claim 1 and including a disc connectingto the downward end of said shaft and incorporating means for allowingattachment of a plurality of advertising devices within the displayspace.
 6. The invention of claim 1 including channel means formed alongthe longitudinally disposed front edges of the side walls, and saidmeans provided for receiving and mounting the transparent mirror surfaceof the front wall.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said mirrorsurface is slidably removable.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidimage reflecting surfaces are cushion mounted to their respective back,side and bottom walls.
 9. The invention of claim 8 wherein saidcushioned mounting includes a series of foam members adhesively mountingbetween each surface and its respective wall.
 10. The invention of claim9 wherein each surface along its edges is coated with a polymer toprevent chipping while the apparatus is being moved.
 11. The inventionof claim 1 wherein said image reflecting surface of the back wall isarranged in an angular disposition to provide for angular reflection ofthe image of the device being displayed.
 12. The invention of claim 1wherein the image reflecting surface of the front wall is angularlydisposed to provide for angularity in the viewing of the image of thedevice being displayed.
 13. The invention of claim 1 including slideclips connecting proximate the side edges of the front wall, said clipsprovided for receiving and holding the transparent mirror surface tosaid front wall.
 14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said mirrorsurface is slidably removable.